I Heart Brunch

It’s 2010 and not much has changed yet in this new year. The economy is still down and restaurants are still struggling, but everyone still hearts brunch. Despite restaurant traffic being down for the big three meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – the popularity of brunch has risen by 8% over the last year overall and by 15% and 10% in the South and Northeast respectively.

The biggest reasons for the growth in brunch? Low prices and cheap booze. Shocker. And the trend continues with even more restaurants in NYC now offering some of the best bottomless brunch deals around.

Southern Hospitality BBQ & Bar
1460 Second Avenue (near 76th Street)
New York, New York 10075
212-249-1001

Bringing some southern hospitality to the Northeast is, well, Southern Hospitality. This Justin Timberlake and friends owned BBQ joint introduced a brunch menu to the restaurant in 2009 and features southern-style brunch entrees like Chicken and Waffles, Chicken Fried Steak N’ Eggs, Pulled Pork Huevos Rancheros and Smoked Brisket Hash and Eggs.

Their latest addition for 2010 is not in the food department, but bottomless mimosas and blood marys for $11.95 (with purchase of a brunch entree). The deal lasts from 11:30am until 3pm, so you’ll have plenty of time to get your money’s worth. Too bad football season is done for, otherwise I’d be there every weekend.

Vamos! Mexican Restaurant and Bar
348 First Avenue (btw 20th and 21st Streets)
New York, New York 10009
212-358-7800

Moving south of the border, the Gramercy/Peter Cooper Village Mexican restaurant, Vamos, recently upgraded it’s brunch game with what it does best: Margaritas. Known more for its happy hour scene and gourmet tacos than it’s brunch offering, Vamos tries to recreate some of its post-workday magic with All-You-Can-Drink Frozen Margaritas for a mere $6, in addition to the purchase of any brunch entree.

Personally I am a bigger fan of margaritas on the rocks, and they have some really good ones for $7.50 a piece, but for only $6 I’d definitely give these frozen treats a try. The deal lasts from Noon until 4pm and is well worth the price given that a single frozen margarita is normally $8 a glass.

Cafecito Bogotá – Arepa, Wine & Espresso Bar
1015 Manhattan Ave. (at Green St in Greenpoint)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
718-569-0077

Going even further south, into South American, there is one place that I am eager to try, but have yet to make it out to: Colombian gourmet outfit Cafecito Bogotá in Greenpoint. Proudly boasting Brooklyn’s longest brunch hours from 9am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday, it also claims Brooklyn’s first unlimited drinks brunch. Whether or not the last statement is true, what is undeniable is that it has one of the best brunch deals in New York City.

For $12.50 (only $8.50 before 11am!), you get your choice of entree plus unlimited fresh juice, cocktail, wine or beer and bottomless Colombian coffee or tea. Cafecito Bogotá has brunch classics like French Toast and Eggs Benedict, but you’d only be cheating yourself if you didn’t go for one of the Colombian options like their signature mounted arepas. A couple other items I have my eye on include the Colombian Pericos scrambled eggs with scallion and tomatoes topped with bacon, and the Eggs Bolivarianos, a Colombian take on Eggs Benedict with toasty arepa halves, salchichón (Colombian salami), and poached eggs smothered in homemade Maracuyá (Passion Fruit) sauce.

I’ll post my Cafecito Bogotá review once I make it out there. My mouth is already watering.

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